15 Jun 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. CBIC - National Time Release Study (NTRS) Report, 2023
2. Atmanirbharta in Defence
3. 4th National Water Awards (NWA), 2022

1. CBIC – National Time Release Study (NTRS) Report, 2023

Syllabus – GS3, Indian Economy: Growth & Development.

Prelims – CBIC, NTRS Report, 2023.

Context – The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) released the National Time Release Study (NTRS) Report, 2023

Details –

• Time Release Study (TRS) is a performance measurement tool that aims to present a quantitative measure of the cargo release time. It is defined as the time taken from the arrival of the cargo at the customs station to its out-of-charge for domestic clearance in case of imports and arrival of the cargo at the customs station to the eventual departure of the carrier in case of exports.
• The CBIC has been focussing on reducing release time by customs for both imports and exports to promote ease of doing business and improve tax collections.
• NTRS 2023 presents port category-wise average release time for the current year, based on the sample period of January 1-7 2023 (both days included) and compares the same to the performance during the corresponding periods of 2021 and 2022.
• The ports included in the NTRS, 2023 include 4 seaports, 3 inland container depots (ICD), 6 air cargo complexes (ACC) and 2 integrated check posts (ICP) (a total of 15 major ports). 
• The average import release time is continuously improving, achieving a 20% reduction in release time for ICDs, an 11% reduction for ACCs and a 9% reduction for seaports in 2023 over 2022.

Import Release Time (Source – cbic.gov.in)

• NTRS 2023 has placed greater focus on the measurement of export release time. NTRS 2023 recognises the distinction between regulatory clearance (also known as customs release), which gets completed with the grant of LEO (Let Export Order) and the wider aspect of physical clearance which occurs on completion of logistics processes with the departure of the carrier with the goods. 
• The improved release time has been achieved by implementing various trade facilitation measures to expedite clearance and enhance trade efficiency.

2. Atmanirbharta in Defence

Syllabus – GS3, Science & Technology: Indigenisation of Technology.

Prelims – Atmanirbharta in Defence

Context – The Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 500 crore contract to strengthen the Indian army’s communication system.

Details –

• In order to realise the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by boosting the indigenous production of defence equipment, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract worth Rs 500 crore with ICOMM Tele Limited, Hyderabad for the procurement of 1,035 numbers of 5/7.5 Ton Radio Relay Communication Equipment Containers.
• The contract is under Buy (Indian) Category and the delivery of the containers will commence from FY 2023-24.
• The containers would be mounted on authorised specialist vehicles and moved as per operational requirements. These containers will be utilised to provide a protected environment for communication equipment to function in a failsafe and reliable manner.
• All the sub-systems for the containers will be sourced indigenously giving a boost to the private sector in alignment with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Such indigenous productions will also help in boosting exports to friendly nations.

Related links – Atmanirbhar in Defence.

3. 4th National Water Awards (NWA), 2022

Syllabus – GS3, Conservation of Resources.

Prelims – 4th National Water Awards (NWA), 2022.

Context – The Vice-President of India will confer the 4th National Water Awards on 17th June 2023.

Details –

• Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, the Vice President of India will confer the 4th National Water Awards at an awards distribution ceremony organised by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD and GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The 4th National Water Awards, 2022 cover 11 categories and there are a total of 41 winners, including joint winners.
• The NWAs were introduced to recognise and encourage the efforts and contributions of the stakeholders in accomplishing the government’s vision of ‘Jal Samridh Bharat,’ motivating them to adopt the best water usage practices.
• The first National Water Award was launched in 2018, the second and third were awarded for the years – 2019 and 2020.
• Results of the 4th National Water Awards –
• • Best State – Madhya Pradesh.
  • Best District – Ganjam District, Odisha.
  • Best Village Panchayat – Jagannadhapuram Village Panchayat, Telangana.
  • Best Urban Local Body – Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh.
  • Best Industry for CSR – HCL Technologies Ltd. Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
  • Best Media – Advance Water Digest Private Limited, Gurugram, Haryana.
  • Best School – Jamiyatpura Primary School, Mehsana, Gujarat.
  • Best Institution for Campus Usage – Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Best Industry – Barauni Thermal Power Station, Begusarai, Bihar.
  • Best NGO – Arpan Seva Sansthan, Udaipur, Rajasthan.
  • Best Water User Association – Sanjeevani Piyat Sahkari Mandli Ltd, Narmada, Gujarat.

Read more about NWA – National Water Awards.

Read the previous PIB articles here.

June 15th, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here